BANGKOK - FORMER prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra Sunday made a phone call to urge his supporters to continue to support the Pheu Thai Party so that he could return to Thailand one day.

He made the phone call to the rally of the Pheu Thai at the Bamphen Nua Temple in Bangkok's Min Buri district in the morning.

Many red-shirted people took part in the Pheu Thai Meets the People' rally at the temple during which the people could apply for party membership and air their grievances and opinions to the party.

While the Pheu Thai leading members were holding a press conference about the rally in front of the crowd, Thaksin called the mobile phone of Wicharn Minchaiyanant, a Pheu Thai Bangkok MP.

He addressed his supporters for about five minutes.

Mr Thaksin said he would like to thank the Min Buri and Klong Samwa residents for voting for two Pheu Thai MPs.

The former prime minister said he had a lot of concern for Thailand's economic situation.

Mr Thaksin also thanked Pheu Thai MPs for remaining with the party and continue to support him.

'I would like to thank you all for taking care of the people so that I could return to serve the people again,' he said. -- THE NATION